Can opener and sealer



Sept. 12, 1961 R. A. VALVANO 2,999,612 CAN OPENER AND SEALER Filed 001;. 20, 1958 INVENTOR. 1244 J90 V7; VOA/O 07 6,," b AM.

A 7 roeA/Eys 2,999,612 CAN OPENER AND SEALER Ralph A. Valvano, Long Beach, Calif. (602 S. Quaker Ava, Tulsa20, Gida.) Filed Oct. 20,1958, Ser. No. 768,489 2 Claims. (Cl. 220-51) This invention relates to means for puncturing and sealing metal containers.

There are many instances where canned liquids are only partially consumed or used at the time the metal container or can is opened. One well known example of this is canned evaporated or condensed milk Where the housewife usually only uses a portion of the contents at the time the can is opened. It is highly desirable to provide some means for puncturing the can so as to dispense the contents and also to provide means whereby the punctures or openings in the can may be effectively sealed so that the unused contents may be stored without fear of contamination or deterioration.

It, therefore, is an object of the invention to provide a novel device particularly useful in connection with cans containing dispensable liquids, for the purpose of providing a pair of holes in the can at oppositely spaced points of the top thereof, and subsequently sealing such openings to protect the contents.

Another object is to provide such a device which can be readily manipulated to produce holes in the can, readily manipulated to seal the openings produced in the can, and subsequently readily manipulated to uncover the openings for the purpose of dispensing the contents.

A further object is to provide a device of the type indicated which is of relatively simple construction and which can be readily manufactured.

These and other objects will be apparent from the drawing and the following description. Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing a device embodying the invention mounted on a metal container or can;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device and can of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view showing the device in position for permitting the dispensing of the contents of the can.

More particularly describing the invention, numeral 11 generally designates a metal container, or can, such as is commonly used for containing condensed milk. Shown attached to the can is a device 12 which embodies the invention. The device comprises a main body 14 of sheet metal which is preferably highly resistant to rust and corrosion and which possesses spring quality. The main body is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 15 near one end in the region of which is mounted a punch assembly 16. The latter includes a punch 17 comprising a shank or stem 18, a knob 19 attached thereto at its upper end, and a punch blade 20 at its lower end. The latter is a triangular-shaped section having upwardly facing shoulders 21. The blade is relatively thin in cross-section in a direction normal to the vertical plane containing the shoulders 21.

The punch stem 18 extends through a washer 23, the slot 15 in body 14 and through an aperture 24 in a slider element 26. A compression coil spring 27 is provided about the stem between the knob and washer 23. The slider body is provided with lateral, inturned flange portions 28 which extend upwardly around and partially over the main body 14. The slider is also provided with ice end flanges or return bend portions 30 which serve to secure a sealing pad 32 which may be of rubber, rubberlike material, or plastics. A washer 33 is positioned beneath the pad upon stem 18. The pad 32 may be firmly fixed or bonded to the under surface of the slider body in any suitable way, in addition to being clamped in place by the flanges or return end portions of the slider.

The end of the body .14 adjacent the slot 15 is provided with a down-turned end flange 35 which is useful in manipulating the device as will later appear.

The main body 14 is also provided with a narrow slot, or slit, extending inwardly from the end opposite the end having the end flange 35 to define an auxiliary punch 37 which is formed integrally with the main body 14. This auxiliary punch includes a main, upwardly inclined portion 38 and a downwardly projecting, sharpened pointed end portion 40.

The main body of the device is also stepped at 42 to provide a portion 43 which carries a sealing pad 45 which may be made of rubber plastics or other suitable material. This is mounted in a metal retainer 47 which is shown as generally rectangular with inturned flanged edge portions 48 partially encompassing the pad. The metal retainer is welded or otherwise secured to the main body 14, and the pad is cemented or bonded to the retainer.

In use, the device is placed upon the top of a can approximately as shown in FIG. 1. The punch 17 is then forcibly depressed to puncture the top wall 11' of the can producing a narrow hole 51. Following this the punch, while held down, is turned a quarter turn in either direction and then released. This action serves to anchor the device by means of the upwardly facing shoulders 21 which engage under the top wall of the can adjacent the hole 51. The auxiliary punch is then depressed forcibly to punch a hole 53 in the upper wall of the can at a point approximately degrees circumferentially with respect to the hole 51.

In order to dispense the liquid in the can, the main body 14 of the device is turned slightly about the axis of the punch to expose the hole 53 through which the liquid is poured. Also by tilting the device, as in FIG. 6, the opening 51 is partially exposed thereby permitting the entrance of air into the can as the contents are poured out through opening 53.

The can is then sealed by returning the device to a position such that the two pads 32 and 45 cover the holes 51 and 53 respectively.

While I have shown and described a preferred form of my invention, I contemplate that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A can opener and sealer device, comprising an elongated thin body, a slider member mounted for limited movement longitudinally of said body, punch means carried in part on said slider member and in part on said body, said punch means including an upwardly springbiased, rotatably mounted punch stem terminating in a punch blade provided with upwardly facing shoulders adapted to engage the inner surface of a can adjacent a hole punched in the end thereof by said punch for releasably anchoring the device to the can, a sealing pad carried by said slider member and through which the stern of said punch extends, a punch element carried on said body adjacent its other end, said punch element comprising an elongated integral portion of said body separated therefrom by a split throughout its length and having an upwardly inclined main portion and a downwardly turned pointed end portion, and a sealing pad on the underside of said body adjacent said punch element.

2. A can opener and sealer comprising an elongated body formed of sheet metal, said body being slit longitudinally from one end inwardly a substantial distance to form a punch portion, said punch portion being upwardly inclined from its inner end toward its outer end and terminating in a downturned pointed outer end, a punch carried by said body adjacent its other end, said punch being slidably adjustable along the body to a limited extent, a pad means at each end of said body for sealing holes provided in a can by said punches, and means for detachably securing said body to the can.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Lewis Mar. 14, 1922 Dilley Dec. 17, 1935 Russell Aug. 9, 1938 Sansom Apr. 24, 1945 Markley Sept. 10, 1946 McLean Dec. 18, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Canada .J Mar. 11, 1952 

